THREE QUALITIES THAT MUST SHAPE LEADERS OF TOMORROW

WITHOUT doubt, India is at an exciting juncture, thanks to the palimpsest of policy and reform over several decades.

- R GOPALAKRISHNAN

These are times to avoid distractions like the recent news item on the market capitalisation of Tata Group exceeding the GDP of Pakistan. True, but so what? After all, the combined market capitalisation of just two US companies, Microsoft and Nvidia, exceeds India's GDP! Among the key challenges right now for Indian companies is preparing the 'Tomorrow Leader' for the nation.

I speak each year to about 7,500 younger people face-to-face and connect with another 10,000 through Zoom and social media. The feedback, critique, and comments that I receive are very helpful in determining the topics for further writing and discussion. I am frequently asked, "What is the impact of artificial intelligence and technologies on the future leader?"

I am no expert on technology, but 50 years of observing how leadership approaches became 'past' when I was young, and how new ideas shaped leadership of the future' help me offer an anecdotal view of the 'tomorrow leader'. Leadership exists in all domainsacademic, political, public service, defence, enterprise (which happens to be my field of experience), and many others. Although one can slice and dice skills by domain, it is instructive to explore what has remained common, from the time of Alexander the Great till modern times, irrespective of timing or domain the so-called eternal principles.